The Supreme Court on Friday directed Jammu and Kashmir government to review the restrictions imposed following the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year.
“Such suspension can only be for a limited time period and is subject to judicial review,” the top court said.
“The freedom of Internet access is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of free speech,” the court said, directing the administration to restore Internet services in all institutions providing essential services like hospitals, bank and education.
The Apex Court ordered Jammu and Kashmir administration to review all restrictive orders within a week.
The court was delivering its verdict on a batch of pleas made by Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, among few other pleas questioning the restrictions imposed in the valley following the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370.
A bench of Justice NV Ramana, Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice BR Gavai had reserved the judgement in November last year.
The Centre had on November 21, justified restrictions imposed in the valley after the provisions of Article 370 were removed and said that due to the preventive steps taken, ‘not a single life was lost, nor a single bullet fired’.
